A dual mode touchscreen display disposed in an information handling system chassis proximate a keyboard selectively presents images from information generated by a central processing unit or from information generated by a secondary processor associated with the touchscreen display. An operating system executing on the central processor unit presents information at the touchscreen through a serial link by treating the touchscreen as a secondary display to a primary display integrated in the chassis. Alternatively, an application executing on the secondary processor presents information at the touchscreen independent of the central processing unit or the operating system. As an example, the touchscreen display presents a number pad under the direction of the operating system to accept number pad inputs or, alternatively, presents a number pad under the direction of an application running on the secondary processor to accept number pad inputs that are forwarded to a keyboard controller.
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1. An information handling system comprising: a processor operable to process information; memory interfaced with the processor and operable to store information; a primary display interfaced with the processor and operable to present the information as images; a secondary display interfaced with the processor by first and second communication protocols, the secondary display operable to present the information as images and to accept touch inputs; a primary operating system executing on the processor and operable to manage communication of the information to the primary display and further operable to manage communication to the secondary display with the first communication protocol for presentation of selected images at the primary display and the secondary display; a secondary processor associated with the secondary display; and a secondary display application operable to execute on the secondary processor, the secondary display application generating secondary information for presentation as images at the secondary display, the secondary display application further operable to accept touch inputs associated with the secondary information images and to communicate the touch inputs to the primary operating system with the second communication protocol.
An information handling system features a processor, memory, a primary display, and a secondary touchscreen display. The secondary display connects to the processor using two communication methods. A primary operating system manages how information is shown on both displays, using the first communication protocol for the secondary display. A separate processor associated with the secondary display runs an application that independently generates images for the secondary display. This application also takes touch inputs on the secondary display and sends them back to the primary operating system using the second communication protocol. The primary OS and secondary application can both control what is shown on the secondary display and handle touch input.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first communication protocol comprises USB.
The information handling system described where a secondary touchscreen display connects to the main processor using two communication methods, the first communication protocol, used for sending image data from the main processor to the secondary display, is USB (Universal Serial Bus). The secondary display also has its own processor, allowing it to display information independently of the main processor, and touch inputs are sent back to the main processor using a second protocol.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first communication protocol comprises DVI.
The information handling system described where a secondary touchscreen display connects to the main processor using two communication methods, the first communication protocol, used for sending image data from the main processor to the secondary display, is DVI (Digital Visual Interface). The secondary display also has its own processor, allowing it to display information independently of the main processor, and touch inputs are sent back to the main processor using a second protocol.
4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein second communication protocol comprises SMBus.
The information handling system described where a secondary touchscreen display connects to the main processor using two communication methods, the second communication protocol, used for sending touch inputs from the secondary display back to the main processor, is SMBus (System Management Bus). The main processor sends image data to the secondary display using a first protocol. The secondary display also has its own processor, allowing it to display information independently of the main processor.
5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the second communication protocol comprises I2C.
The information handling system described where a secondary touchscreen display connects to the main processor using two communication methods, the second communication protocol, used for sending touch inputs from the secondary display back to the main processor, is I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit). The main processor sends image data to the secondary display using a first protocol. The secondary display also has its own processor, allowing it to display information independently of the main processor.
6. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the secondary display application comprises a multimedia application operable to execute on the secondary processor to generate multimedia information for presentation as multimedia images at the secondary display.
In the information handling system featuring a main processor, primary display, and a secondary touchscreen display with its own processor, the application running on the secondary processor is a multimedia application. This application generates multimedia content (images, video, audio) displayed on the secondary screen. The secondary touchscreen also accepts touch inputs related to the multimedia application, sending those inputs to the main processor.
7. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the multimedia application comprises a video conference application.
In the information handling system featuring a main processor, primary display, and a secondary touchscreen display where the application running on the secondary processor is a multimedia application, the multimedia application is a video conference application. The secondary display can show video from the conference, and touch inputs on the secondary display can control the video conference or send data to the main processor.
8. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the multimedia application comprises a VoIP application operable to support VoIP communications.
In the information handling system featuring a main processor, primary display, and a secondary touchscreen display where the application running on the secondary processor is a multimedia application, the multimedia application is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) application. The secondary display can show call information and controls, and touch inputs on the secondary display can manage VoIP calls or send data to the main processor.
9. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the multimedia application is further operable to communicate the multimedia information through the second communication protocol for presentation at the primary display.
In the information handling system featuring a main processor, primary display, and a secondary touchscreen display with its own processor running a multimedia application, the multimedia application sends the multimedia information (audio or video) not only to the secondary display, but also sends the same multimedia information to the primary display through the second communication protocol for presentation.
10. A method for presenting information at a primary or secondary display, the method comprising: generating primary information with a primary processor; generating secondary information with a secondary processor; presenting an image at a primary display based upon the primary information; and presenting an image at a secondary display based upon a selected of either the primary information or the secondary information; accepting touch inputs to the secondary display based upon the selected of either the primary or secondary information; and communicating the touch inputs from the secondary display to the primary processor for use in generating the primary information.
A method displays information on either a primary or a secondary display. A primary processor generates primary information, while a secondary processor generates secondary information. An image is shown on the primary display using the primary information. An image is shown on the secondary display using either the primary information or the secondary information. Touch inputs on the secondary display, based on what's being shown (primary or secondary information), are sent back to the primary processor. The primary processor uses these touch inputs to create the primary information.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the secondary information comprises a menu presented at the secondary display for an application running on the primary processor.
In the method where information is displayed on either a primary or a secondary display based on primary and secondary processors, the secondary information shown on the secondary display is a menu for an application that is currently running on the primary processor. This menu allows the user to control the application on the main processor through the secondary display.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the primary information comprises multimedia information.
In the method where information is displayed on either a primary or a secondary display based on primary and secondary processors, the primary information being displayed on the primary display is multimedia information, such as video or audio. The secondary display can show related information or controls, or independently display its own secondary information.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the secondary information comprises an input device, the method further comprising: presenting an image of the input device at the secondary display; accepting inputs through the input device with a touchscreen incorporated in the secondary display; and communicating the inputs to the primary processor to manage an application generating the primary information.
In the method where information is displayed on either a primary or a secondary display based on primary and secondary processors, the secondary information is an input device. An image of the input device (like a number pad, slider, or custom control) is shown on the secondary touchscreen display. When the user interacts with this input device via touch, the inputs are sent to the primary processor. These inputs then control an application running on the primary processor, impacting the primary information being generated.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the input device comprises a jog menu.
In the method where information is displayed on either a primary or a secondary display and where the secondary information is an input device, the input device is a jog menu. This menu presents a set of options that can be selected or scrolled through with touch gestures on the secondary display, with the selections then being sent to the primary processor to control an application.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the primary information comprises a menu for an application running on the primary processor, the menu communicated to the secondary display for presentation, the method further comprising: accepting inputs to the menu at a touchscreen of the secondary display; and communicating the inputs from the secondary display to the primary processor for use by the application.
In the method where information is displayed on either a primary or a secondary display, the primary information is a menu for an application running on the primary processor. This menu is sent to the secondary display for presentation. Touch inputs to the menu on the secondary display are then sent back to the primary processor. The application on the primary processor uses these inputs to respond to the menu selections.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the menu is communicated from the primary processor to the secondary display with a first protocol and the inputs are communicated from the secondary display to the primary processor with a second protocol.
In the method where a menu for an application on the primary processor is sent to the secondary display for touch input, the menu is sent from the primary processor to the secondary display using a first communication protocol, while the touch inputs are sent back from the secondary display to the primary processor using a different, second communication protocol.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein application run on the primary processor comprises a media player.
In the method where a menu for an application on the primary processor is sent to the secondary display for touch input, the application running on the primary processor is a media player (e.g., for playing audio or video). The menu on the secondary display provides controls for the media player, such as play, pause, skip, or volume adjustment, with touch inputs controlling the media playback.
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September 13, 2012
July 9, 2013
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